Traction-engine.



No. 704,652. Patented July l5, I902.

G. D. MILLER.

TRACTION ENGINE.

(Application filed Not, 80, 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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, Patnted July I5, 1902. a. n. MILLER.

TRACTION ENGINE.

(Application filed Nov. 30, 1901.)

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(Applicafioq filed 1:. so, 1901.

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Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

GIDEON D. MILLER, OF TUB, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRACTION-ENGINE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.704,652, dated July 15, 1902.

Application filed November 30, 1901- Serial No. 84,176. (No model.)

T 0 (LZZ whom it Ina/y concern.-

Be it known thatLGInnoN D. MILLER,& citizen of the United States,residing at Tub, in

engines, and more particularly to the run ning-gear frame for supportingthe engine and its driving mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide a running-gearorsupporting-frame which shall be of such construction that the drivingmechanism may be arranged below the boiler,thereby throwing the centerof gravity of the machine to a lower point, and consequently materiallyincreasing the stability of the engine.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a novel means forsupporting the forward end of the engine upon the runninggear and at thesame time so arrange said running-gear that any unusual movement of thefront wheels will not affect the steam working parts of the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a runninggear orsupporting-frame which shall be exceedingly simple, durable, and compactin its construction and arrangement and which will materially lessen theweight of the engine.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novelfeatures of construction and combination, all of which will be fullydescribed hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a viewillustrating the practical application of my invention, theengine-boiler and steam-operating parts being shown in outline and thetraction and balance wheels being shown in dotted lines in order to moreclearly disclose the novel features of my improved traction-engine. Fig.2 is a top plan view of the running-gear or supporting-frame of thetraction-engine, the front axle and wheels being omitted from theillustration. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the cross-beamhaving the integral bearing-brackets. Fig. i is a similar view takenfrom the opposite side. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail illustrating themanner of connecting and bracing the cross-beam. Fig. 6 is a sectionaldetail illustrating the manner of journaling the power-shaft and thepinion connected thereto, and Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustratingthe manner of journaling the idler forming a part of the drivingmechanism. Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 show details of construction.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the ordinary traction-engineboiler having cylinders B arranged upon opposite sides of the forwardend. The forward end of the boiler rests upon a supporting-yoke O, thelower ends of said yoke being securely fastened to the cross-plates D,which plates are securely bolted between the forward ends of thelongitudinal I-beams E, which are the main supporting-beams of therunning-gear. These beams E are contracted or made to converge adjacentto their forward ends, as shown at E, in order to bring their forwardends into close parallel position, in order to provide ample space forthe movement of the forward wheels F,said'wheels being mounted upon theends of the front axle G. A vertical post H is'securely fastened to thefront axle G at its center, said post passing upwardly between theI-beams and cross-plates and car ries a ball H atits upper end, whichfits into the socket I of the block I, which is movable verticallywithin the supporting-yoke, guide-plates I being arranged upon theopposite sides of the said block for the purpose of holding the saidblock within the yoke and guiding it in'its vertical movements.

A stout spring K is arranged within the yoke between its top and theblock I, said spring taking up the jar or jolt incidental to themovement of the traction-engine. The

post being rigidly connected to the front axle lugs L, through which thefastening-bolts L are passed for the purpose of connecting the saidcross-beam to the longitudinal I-beams'; Thiscross-beamLcarriesthebearingbrackets M intermediateits ends, the bearing-bracket N at oneend and the bracket 0 at the opposite end. These brackets M, N, and Oare preferably made integral with the beam L, and in practice I alsopropose to brace these by means of integral flanges or webs M, N, and 0,respectively, as most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and at. Thepower-shaftPis journaled inthe brackets M, and the other halves of thebox are securely bolted to the brackets, said power-shaft having acrank-disk P at one end,to which one pitman P is attached. Thepower-shaft is also formed with a crank portion P which is arrangedbetween the brackets M and N and to which the pitman P is connected, theend of the crank-shaft being journaled in the bracket N which is formedwith asemicylindrical extension N upon its outer side, and the otherhalf of the journaled box is formed with a corresponding semicylindricalextension N which surrounds the end of the power-shaft and forms thebearing for the pinion Q rigidly mount-ed upon the end of thepower-shaft, as most clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Brace-bars R extend from the brackets N and O to a cross-bar R,connecting the cylinders, thereby securely bracing the said cylindersand all parts connected therewith. The brackets M are also braced bymeans of tie-rods R extending from the upper ends of said brackets tothe engine-boiler, as most r-learlyillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Theflywheel Q' is also mounted upon the outer end of the power-shaft, asshown in Fig. 2.

The pinion Q meshes with the idler S, said idler turning upon acircularblock S, securely fastened between the parallel bars T, the forward endsof said bars being securely fastened to the cross-beam L adjacent to thebracket N, the rear end of said bars being connected to a box mountedupon the main axle U, said axle being mounted in journalbox U, arrangedupon the longitudinal I- beams E. The idler S meshes with a gear Smounted upon a shaft S journaled in boxes S, said shaft also carryingapinion S which meshes with the gear S which is mounted from the mainaxle U, said main axle carrying the traction-wheels V, as shown in Fig.2.

The parallel bars T are curved upwardly, as shown at T, in order topermit the free movement of the pinion S which is arranged at one sideand beneath the said bars; but the gear S which meshes with the idler S,travels between the said parallel bars, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The bracket 0 is illustrated as having a bearing portion 0 but thiscurve is produced not for the purpose of bearing, but to permit theboring or cutting tool to be easily introduced into the bearing portionsof the brackets M and N for the purpose of grinding or boring the saidhearings in order to make them true.

It will of course be understood that a pinion is mounted upon theopposite end of a shaft S and a gear upon the opposite end of the mainaxle U in order to transmit motion to the opposite traction-wheel.

The running-gear constructed and applied as herein shown and describedwill enable one to build a traction-engine weighing considerably lessthan traction-engines now in general use, and by having the power-shaftlocated so that direct connection can be had with the cylinders and byhaving the driving mechanism so arranged that motion can be transmitteddirectly from the power-shaft thereto I am able .to dispense with acomplicatcgl form of driving-gear and am also able to locate the saiddriving-gear at a point below the boiler, thereby placing the center ofgravity of the machine at a point lower than the traction-engines nowcommonly used. All of the parts, though of simple construction, areexceedingly strong and durable, and owing to their peculiar arrangementand method of connection an exceedingly simple, Y

compact, and durable traction-engine is provided. 1

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure, is-

1. In a traction engine the longitudinal beams connected at theirforward ends and carrying a supporting-yoke, a vertical post carried bythe front axle and working in the supporting-yoke and a spring-pressedblock against which the upper end of the post bears, said block beingarranged within the yoke, substantially as set forth.

2. In a traction-engine, the combination with the longitudinalsupporting-beams, of the connectingplates connecting their forward ends,the supporting-yoke connected to the said plates, the block movable'inthe yoke and having a socket, a spring arranged within the yoke andbearing upon the block, and a vertical post having a ball at its upperend fitting into the socket, the lower end of said post being rigidlyconnected to the front axle, as set forth.

3. In a traction engine the longitudinal beams having a cross-beamconnected thereto, said cross-beam having bearing-brackets, and apower-shaft journaled in the said brackets, said power-shaft beingconnected with the pistons and imparting motion to the drivingmechanism, as set forth.

4. In a traction-engine the combination with the longitudinal beams, ofthe crossbeam connected thereto and carrying the bearing-brackets, thepower-shaft journaled in the said brackets, the operating-pitmenconnected with the said power-shaft, the pinion carried by the saidpower-shaft, and the gearing mechanism driven from the said pinion,substantially as set forth.

5. In a traction engine the combination with the cross-beam having thebearings M and N constructed as described, said bearing N having asemicylindrical extension at one side, the power-shaft journaled in thesaid bearings, the box-section, the semicylindrical extension N and thepinion mounted upon the end of the power-shaft and turning upon thesemicylindrical extension M and N as set forth.

6. In a traction-engine the combination with the longitudinalsupporting-beams having a snpporting-yoke at its forward end, of

the vertical post extending upwardly into the supporting-yoke, aspring-pressed block arranged within the yoke, the cross-beam attachedto the longitudinal beams and having bearing-brackets arranged thereonthe power- GIDEON D. MILLER.

Witnesses:

A. M. Henry, M. R. HAY.

